Share Article

New showroom bolsters SE presence of national motor group.

ACF Car Finance has announced the opening in April of new premises near Heathrow for its third used car showroom in South East England.

The new Feltham dealership, to the west of London, will help the company cope with rising demand for high quality used cars from people with impaired credit records.

Home county customers are currently being served by its two other southern branches in Dunstable to the north of London, and Maidstone to the south east of the capital.

The new-build 9000 sq ft Feltham showroom, based on Vector Park near the town centre, opened its doors for business at the end of March.

At least eight new jobs will be created initially at the dealership which, in addition to extensive vehicle display areas, will include separately staffed car preparation and valeting facilities.

ACF Car Finance is the car retail subsidiary of The Funding Corporation, based in Chester, which is the UK's largest provider of non-prime motor finance.

The Funding Corporation's Managing Director, David Challinor, says the showroom's close proximity to the M25, M3 and M4 motorways is of strategic significance to the company:

"We know from analysis of our national customer base that prospective buyers are quite prepared to travel up to two hours to visit our showrooms," said Mr Challinor.

"The Feltham location means that we can now offer much easier access to ACF Car Finance for customers coming from counties further west and south west.

"We will also now be sharing the growing demand from London area customers among three southern dealerships, allowing us to offer faster appointment times," added Mr Challinor.

Buyers of used cars from ACF Car Finance arrange to view the vehicles after making a loan application to The Funding Corporation, and receiving approval.

It means, says Mr Challinor, that neither the customer's nor the company's time is wasted by a transaction having to be abandoned at the final stage when borrowing is declined.

Such scenarios, he says, are becoming increasingly familiar to used car dealers as banks and other mainstream lenders continue to tighten their lending criteria:

"The Funding Corporation has created a risk-based lending model which allows those with impaired credit histories to be considered for finance," explains Mr Challinor.

"These buyers comprise the vast majority of ACF's customers, and the decision to open a major new showroom in the South is an indication of how this market is expanding," he said.

The Feltham dealership will, like other ACF Car Finance branches, offer a wide range of vehicles including small hatchbacks, mid-range family cars and a selection of prestige models.

All cars sold by the company receive a 136-point RAC-accredited quality and safety inspection. The company's public website can be viewed at http://www.acfcarfinance.co.uk/.

ENDS

ACF Car Finance Limited is Britain's leading supplier of high-quality used cars to people whose credit status might otherwise prevent them from obtaining a car loan. ACF Car Finance has earned a strong reputation within the finance and motor industry for its standards of customer care, and the quality of the friendly, professional advice provided by members of its fully-trained team. The company has a Facebook page, and can be followed on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/ACFCarFinance.